Far North woman rapt with 'extraordinary' horse rescue farm birthday gift

Milli, pictured with Diego, is looking forward to setting up her horse rescue programme to give horses a second chance at life. Photo / supplied

Far North horsewoman Milli Owen is hugely thankful for a unique 21st birthday present which will see her set up a horse rescue programme and save equines destined for slaughter.

Instead of being given gifts to celebrate her special milestone later this month, Milli is asking for contributions to establish Cove Equine where she will save horses and tame wild ponies that would otherwise be culled.

Her mum, Kerikeri businesswoman Vanessa Owen, recently started a Givealittle page to help her daughter achieve her lifelong dream.

The rescue facility will be based from the 42.5-hectare (105-acre) family farm in Te Tii on the Purerua Peninsula in the Bay of Islands.

Milli said it was an "amazing opportunity".

"I can't thank them enough for helping me do this," she said.

"I've always wanted to have some land to have as many horses as possible. There are so many that end up going to the works in New Zealand."

Milli's passion for horses stemmed from an early age; she has ridden since she was four and owns five horses.

Milli [pictured with Diego and Trouper] will set up the rescue facility at the family farm in Te Tii on the Purerua peninsula. Photo / supplied

She later worked in show jumping stables in Europe and has competed in show jumping events, broken in young horses and learned about natural horsemanship.

Milli now plans to take on horses destined for the meat works and those that are "misunderstood or sitting around in a paddock" to give them a second chance at life.

She will also look at saving wild Kaimanawa ponies, which are culled from the Waiouru military training area in the central North Island if they don't find homes after mustering events.

Milli said she will retrain the horses before selling them on to their forever homes.

Milli Owen is grateful for the horse rescue farm she received as a 21st birthday present. Photo / Jenny Ling

Her birthday gift works in well with another big dream - competing in the Olympics.

And if she can do it on a difficult horse that's previously been misunderstood, then all the better.

"I like working with horses that have been misunderstood," Milli said. "Some of the best horses have been written off like a car would.

"I want to get as far as I can in show jumping, and to help as many horses as I can.

"It's such an expensive industry, the horses out there are worth millions, but you can get that diamond in the rough sometimes."

Milli Owen wants to one day compete in the Olympics on a horse she rescued and retrained. Photo / supplied

Milli plans to take on four horses at a time to start with, and build her rescue programme from there.

So far nearly $700 has been raised on Givealittle.

Vanessa said it's an "extraordinary opportunity for her to stay local and do something amazing with our support".

"It's a win for us and a win for Kerikeri. Thanks to everyone who supported her."

Anyone with a sound horse they'd like to pass on can contact Milli: schoolofmilli@gmail.com